Munching on a pulled pork sandwich Monday in downtown Lebanon, U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello tried to reassure Mayor Sherry Capello that the city will likely retain federal grant money, almost $620,000 last year.

President Donald Trump's budget includes the elimination of the $3 billion Community Development Block Grant Program, which was used in Lebanon for programs and projects to benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

With the U.S. House of Representatives in recess for the next two weeks, the congressman stopped in Lebanon to meet with Capello, Kelly Withum, the executive director of the city’s new Business Improvement District, and Mike Kuhn, chairman of the Lebanon Foundation that oversees operating of BID. They visited over lunch at All That and a Bag of Chips on Cumberland Street.

The second-term Republican did his best to put the mind of the mayor at ease, predicting that the city won’t be losing the grant. The former Chester County commissioner said he has seen the value of the CDBG program and said it is too beneficial to cities like Lebanon for it to be eliminated.

“You have to think about how the money constitutes an investment and that return on the investment,” he said. “You are not going to balance the budget with those kind of cuts.

After lunch, Costello took a 60-minute walking tour along Cumberland Street, which is part of the Business Improvement District – an economic program designed to bring more visitors and business to the downtown.

With a clear blue sky and the temperature pushing 80, Costello seemed to enjoy being out of the pressure cooker in Washington, D.C., as he took his stroll.

At Domino’s Pizza at Fifth and Cumberland owner John Bower gave him a behind-the-counter tour of the shop, proudly stating that it is among the top 10-selling franchises in the Northeast.

A few blocks away at The Connect on Eighth Street, Costello grew excited at seeing a wall of vintage Nike sneakers put on display by owner Gzo Rodriguez.

“I had a pair of these growing up,” he said, grabbing an Air Jordan sneaker off a shelf. "You have my word that the next time I'm in Lebanon I'm coming here to get my MJs."

Across the street, at Her Connect, a new women's fashion store run by Rodriguez's wife, Stephanie, it was Capello's turn to get excited about the footwear for sale.

“Now these are my kind of shoes,” she said pointing to some stylish high heals.

At the end of his visit, Costello said he appreciated the opportunity to spend time in downtown Lebanon, meeting with shop owners and will look for ways that he can support its economic revitalization.

"I enjoy this stuff as much as anything else that I do," he said.

It would be difficult to blame Costello if he was relaxed on Monday afternoon. His visit came after a weekend during which he held a town hall meeting at the Historic Chester County Courthouse in West Chester.

Before what was largely a partisan Democratic crowd of about 200, Costello took some heat for voting for House Speaker Paul Ryan's health care legislation, although he did get applause for saying that Trump should release his tax returns, according to the Daily Local.

He also took a measured response on last week's bombing in Syria, echoing this statement he put out the following day.

“The chemical weapons attack carried out by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on his own people is abhorrent and unacceptable. The President’s targeted missile strike against the air base from which the chemical weapons attack was launched makes clear to Assad that no longer will his atrocities against his own citizens go unanswered. I thank our armed services, and I expect Congress to begin our work with the administration and our nation’s allies on a comprehensive strategy moving forward.”

Costello said he doesn't mind taking criticism from constituents or the near daily protests outside his district office in West Chester.

“I enjoy the give and take of it," he said. "They want to make sure that their voice is being heard. And even though they may realize I’m not going to be with them on some of these issues, they still want to be able to say that to me and get my feedback. I enjoyed it. And I also thought it was time well spent.”

Costello said said he does not plan to be at a town hall-style meeting being sponsored by several activist groups in Annville on April 23 . But he will be holding a tele-town hall meeting for constituents on April 21 and will hold outreach events in the future. To register online for the April 21 event visit Costello's website, Costello.house.gov.

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U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello (PA-6) came to Lebanon to tour the downtown area and meet with BID Executive Director Kelly Withum and Mayor Sherry Capello. Costello and Mayor Sherry Capello enjoyed lunch at All That and a Bag of Chips before embarking on a tour of downtown Lebanon. Michael K. Dakota, Lebanon Daily

U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello (PA-6) came to Lebanon to tour the downtown area and meet with BID Executive Director Kelly Withum and Mayor Sherry Capello. Costello and Mayor Sherry Capello enjoyed lunch at All That and a Bag of Chips before embarking on a tour of downtown Lebanon. Michael K. Dakota, Lebanon Daily

U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello (PA-6) came to Lebanon to tour the downtown area and meet with BID Executive Director Kelly Withum and Mayor Sherry Capello. Costello poses with a pair athletic shoes at The Connect, owned by George Rodriguez. Castello, an avid basketball fan, reminisced about his favorite shoes. Michael K. Dakota, Lebanon Daily

U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello (PA-6) came to Lebanon to tour the downtown area and meet with BID Executive Director Kelly Withum and Mayor Sherry Capello. Capello and Costello stop in at Connect Her during a tour of downtown Lebanon. The new store is owned by Stephanie Rodriguez. Michael K. Dakota, Lebanon Daily